, 1887-02-17
SENATOR HARRISON.

THE seat IN The United States SEN
ate which belongs to Senator Ben
jamin Harrison has heen stolen.
The felony was COncOrted nbput this
time two years ago, when A lot of
political thimbleriggers who claim
To own and manage the Democratic
party put their dirty hands and dirty
pencils on the map Of Indiana and
rtplistricted II for legislative and
spnutoria, purposes. The highway
men kept up ,he noise and tried 10
make the Democratic party follow
the band. The music of the band
was elegant and p,OInisiug, but the
decent men In the Democratic party
scorned the dirty work of their pre-.
tended leaders and refused to follow
the hand. The sandbnggers hOasted
during the last campaign that they
would have II majority of "A dead
sure, and most likely 46 on joint bal
lot. Jim-Crow politicians swagger-
ed around about it, and 1t got so that
IL was crime to think, much less
say that the republicans could carry
! the legislature. Careful and close
observers of republ lean politics were
of thu opinion that it was hardly
possible to carry the state for the
| legislative ticket. Senator Harrison
was one uf the republicans who dis.
scented from the above opinion
| and banked his Judgment his faith
in the people. Beinga man of the
people he WAS willing to trust
them. As all know, he, during the
recess OF the Senate, came home and
went before the people. The Re-
publicans admired hi- courage, but
many thought that the odds was ST.
great that the fight WIS u hopeless
one, and in short, that the senator
was leading forl0rn case. He
opened the campaign at his own
home in Indianapolis and laid bare
the villainuus gerrymander Of the
state by democratic legislature.
The Indianapolis speech was good
one. 1t was published and read, but
as a matter of fact there were too
many Republicans who did not be-
lieve that it was possible to carry the
legislative ticket. His arraisnmrnt
of the democratic administration,
both state and national, was eloquent
and mastery. His defense OF the
republican party was superb. Re-.
publicuns took courage and demo-
Gratis became alarmed. AS am evil
dence of the fact ex-senator Me
Donald was telegrHphcd for, and he
came from Washington and Was i'm
mediately cut loose, nnd to show that
his party had on Il big scare he wits
p ,sted for aud made eight speeches
IN the Fort Wayne congressional
district. III" followed Harrison over
tne state as rapidly us he could. Sem
ator NOOrhpe, came to the rescue
and canvassed the state. The party
spent money like water. Harrison
pursued the even tenor of his way
and closed his campaign on the even
ing before the election and returned
conscious that he had made q good
fight. The returns were collected
and there was no doubt hut what the
republican state ticket was elected
with the legislature in doubt. 1t
soon went over the wires that the
republicans would have u majority
on joint ballot. What to do and now
to do 1t was what the democratic
bosses began tO say. THE sweet
scented gang at Indianapolis quickly
decided to doctor the Marion county
returns, and doctor them they did
and counted in two representatives
in the lower house and thus on the
face Of the returns had majority
on joint ballot. The better element
of tho democratic party took no
stock in the ravishment of the ballot
box, but the bosses got out the band
end the hoodlums followed it, and Il
victory that was not n victory was
celebrated. The proceedings from
that time on until the meeting of
the legislature and the now
justly shameful compromise was
entered into. Senator Harrison has
been defeated on the face of the re-
turns. His term will expire on
Thursday, March Sd, at noon. He
has been an able, honest aud pains
taking public servant. He leaves
the senate with the confidence and
respect Of men Of all parties. His
hands are clean and his head is clear.
He Is rich in his defeat. Iii, politi-
cal escutcheon is untarnished, His
COOL name and fame would be and
is his passport. He has rendered his
country and his party good service,
and the Courier thanks him for both.
His retirement Is, we are glad to
know, no personal loss to him, but it
is Il loss-and Il sorry one--fOr the
friends of good government. The
volunteer soldier loses his hest and
most trusted friend in the senate.
The political robbers who stole away
his senatorial robes will hear from
him in the campaign of 1888. lie
will indict the gang for highway
robbery, and Jury composed of
100000 voters will find them guilty
as charged.--Lafayette, Indiana,
Courier.